Change in philosophy with the Machine??

[MrBoDangles]

The Blades 2000 team did a 75% turnover in one year.......

They had to rebuild...very weak team in 2009.

I would say for the most part the Blades have mantain most of there players on there 95,96,97,98,99 teams where most other AAA teams have experience more turn over much of the stability of the teams is due to there organization. My understanding is that the 2000 made a coaching change to improve the team.

All have had major change... The point I'm trying to make is if these programs are so exclusive, and the training is so good. Why are they not able to train them to make the team the next year? What happens is all the best players around join the team the last 2 or 3 years and people think they have been trained there all along.

[takeitwide]

They had to rebuild...very weak team in 2009.

I would say for the most part the Blades have mantain most of there players on there 95,96,97,98,99 teams where most other AAA teams have experience more turn over much of the stability of the teams is due to there organization. My understanding is that the 2000 made a coaching change to improve the team.

MNMade has no 95 and 96 team-disbanded. The 97 team from what I hear from 97 families may not field a team for 2010 and most of the talent off that team went over to the Blades and Velocity. Another example that MNMade can't keep older talented players. Wonder why?

There is no question that MM has had more of it issues keeping top talent over the years. Well according to WCCO MM is responsilbe for the top player develoment around funny isn't it.

[spin-o-rama]

A quick look at an old program shows only 8 of the currently listed 98 blades on the team 2 years ago. Turnover happens a lot. Some players may go back and forth as they look for greener pastures or get cut.

[O-townClown]

There is no question that MM has had more of it issues keeping top talent over the years. Well according to WCCO MM is responsilbe for the top player develoment around funny isn't it.

Where the average go to get good.

[High Off The Glass]

There is no question that MM has had more of it issues keeping top talent over the years. Well according to WCCO MM is responsilbe for the top player develoment around funny isn't it.

Where the average go to get good.

Not even a "Thank You" from Bernie to the Blades anywhere in the TV spot.

[HockeyDad41]

Just read his commitment letter for one example: Tells parents that they must drop every summer sport and focus on hockey, and then lets certain players go and play travel soccer. It's only a matter of time when you will understand, hopefully for your kid, it's not to late.

Remember one thing...Hockey to Bernie is business first, kids and parents take a back seat and come second.

Do you have a specific example? Like something that has happened in a past year, not something that may or may not happen in an upcoming year?

As far as MM being run as a business, I don't have a problem with that. I suspect the folks writing checks to him understand his product when they sign up. Bernie seems to lay out the expectations pretty well and gives you the opportunity to not be part of the team if you don't like the commitment. I don't have a kid on the Machine although if I had a kid with the talent and drive to make the team I would probably write the check.

Nice try! Not going to take the bait. I'm not going to turn this thread into my personal attack on Bernie, because I don't have a personal vendetta with the guy. Could I list examples...Yes. Is this the place for that...NO

In other words you don't have an example. You've already attacked MM and Bernie with your previous comments. If I have to spell it our for you, you called him a liar.

[muckandgrind]

I would say for the most part the Blades have mantain most of there players on there 95,96,97,98,99 teams where most other AAA teams have experience more turn over much of the stability of the teams is due to there organization. My understanding is that the 2000 made a coaching change to improve the team.

MNMade has no 95 and 96 team-disbanded. The 97 team from what I hear from 97 families may not field a team for 2010 and most of the talent off that team went over to the Blades and Velocity. Another example that MNMade can't keep older talented players. Wonder why?

There is no question that MM has had more of it issues keeping top talent over the years. Well according to WCCO MM is responsilbe for the top player develoment around funny isn't it.

What I can add is that through talking with parents of both his 95 and 96 Machine teams, is that the reason those teams folded was because the parents, as well as the 95 coach, simple got sick and tired of putting up with Bernie's B.S...

[EnjoyTheShow]

It looks like the Machine or MN Made organization is changing their Summer philosophy. I am certainly no expert, but it is my understanding that in the past, players who played other summer sports were expected to be at all hockey functions in the case of a conflict.
There is a player on the 00' machine for the upcoming year who has been told they can miss any practices they want, as he is a traveling soccer player. I am curious if this is the case for all of the machine teams or if it is the exception. Anyone know of other players that don't have to sign the "contract?"

It is my understanding that the player in question was "pimped" from another highly competitive rival AAA team (remain nameless at this time), and in return the Machine agreed he could still play soccer. Remember it's about development--not winning?

That is my understanding as well. If that is the case, is it going to remain specific to this one player? I would imagine the owner/boss down there would have some serious concerns about opening the flood gates. If one kid can miss and still be a "top liner" how many more will expect to do the same. Is it also possible that the coach of that team did this with out Bernies knowledge. Also was the other "rival" team not willing to let players play other sports?

[MrBoDangles]

Do you have a specific example? Like something that has happened in a past year, not something that may or may not happen in an upcoming year?

As far as MM being run as a business, I don't have a problem with that. I suspect the folks writing checks to him understand his product when they sign up. Bernie seems to lay out the expectations pretty well and gives you the opportunity to not be part of the team if you don't like the commitment. I don't have a kid on the Machine although if I had a kid with the talent and drive to make the team I would probably write the check.

Nice try! Not going to take the bait. I'm not going to turn this thread into my personal attack on Bernie, because I don't have a personal vendetta with the guy. Could I list examples...Yes. Is this the place for that...NO

In other words you don't have an example. You've already attacked MM and Bernie with your previous comments. If I have to spell it our for you, you called him a liar.

This is either Bernie or a Made defense lawer

[HockeyDad41]

I think somebody's kid got cut or didn't make the team they wanted and Dad is mad at Bernie. Rather than face the fact that junior might not be the next NHL'er take a shot at the program that didn't see how great his kid is.

[can'tbuymelove]

I heard the 96' Machine disbanded cause they could not win in Canada...

[muckandgrind]

I heard the 96' Machine disbanded cause they could not win in Canada...

In talking with some of the parents, they just got fed up with Bernie and scattered to the winds......it started as a trickle, then turned into a flood.

[High Off The Glass]

Do you have a specific example? Like something that has happened in a past year, not something that may or may not happen in an upcoming year?

As far as MM being run as a business, I don't have a problem with that. I suspect the folks writing checks to him understand his product when they sign up. Bernie seems to lay out the expectations pretty well and gives you the opportunity to not be part of the team if you don't like the commitment. I don't have a kid on the Machine although if I had a kid with the talent and drive to make the team I would probably write the check.

Nice try! Not going to take the bait. I'm not going to turn this thread into my personal attack on Bernie, because I don't have a personal vendetta with the guy. Could I list examples...Yes. Is this the place for that...NO

In other words you don't have an example. You've already attacked MM and Bernie with your previous comments. If I have to spell it our for you, you called him a liar.

Yes, many examples. I didn't call him a liar, you just did. No matter how many examples I show you, you still would defend him. Keep drinking the orange Kool-aid and writing the checks to help Bernie pay for his next Corvette!

[MrBoDangles]

I think somebody's kid got cut or didn't make the team they wanted and Dad is mad at Bernie. Rather than face the fact that junior might not be the next NHL'er take a shot at the program that didn't see how great his kid is.

No Bernie, I'm 35 minutes north of the NSC and that's far enough for my sons AAA team. There are folks up here that do the drive 3-4 hours round trip. We learned our lesson last year with the northern Made SPIN off...... skate skate skate and nothing much about hockey. There comes a point when a kids crossover can't get any better, but do it some more. The militant style, coaches yelling at 8 year olds until red in the face, swearing, throwing his hat on the ice when a mistake was made sucks the fun out of it for a kid. Bad choice on my part...... His team this summer talks about fun, skills training, Fhit and outside training for the goalies, cross ice games. His passion and smile about hockey are back. That's most important.........

[silentbutdeadly3139]

I heard the 96' Machine disbanded cause they could not win in Canada...

Can't be because its "IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TRAINING"

[MrBoDangles]

I think somebody's kid got cut or didn't make the team they wanted and Dad is mad at Bernie. Rather than face the fact that junior might not be the next NHL'er take a shot at the program that didn't see how great his kid is.

post came up twice

[InigoMontoya]

northern Made SPIN off

What is that?

[Pioneerprideguy]

I'm sure Bernie believes that if you sqeeze hard enough on a large amount of grapes, you will make wine. He can then hold that glass high in the air and say, Looky what I made". As you look around the floor at all the used up grapes that never made the glass.

[HockeyDad41]

I think somebody's kid got cut or didn't make the team they wanted and Dad is mad at Bernie. Rather than face the fact that junior might not be the next NHL'er take a shot at the program that didn't see how great his kid is.

No Bernie, I'm 35 minutes north of the NSC and that's far enough for my sons AAA team. There are folks up here that do the drive 3-4 hours round trip. We learned our lesson last year with the northern Made SPIN off...... skate skate skate and nothing much about hockey. There comes a point when a kids crossover can't get any better, but do it some more. The militant style, coaches yelling at 8 year olds until red in the face, swearing, throwing his hat on the ice when a mistake was made sucks the fun out of it for a kid. Bad choice on my part...... His team this summer talks about fun, skills training, Fhit and outside training for the goalies, cross ice games. His passion and smile about hockey are back. That's most important.........

Great - another guy with zero experience with a MM program offering his 2 cents. Thanks. As far as I know MM does not have any northern affiliates. Keep bashing away though, there seems to be an audience for it.

[mwild]

I doubt any of these super AAA programs produce any additional professional or D-1 players. Nothing wrong with participating. They are however doing the kids a disservice by saying that they are responsible for their success. It does help their own sales/mkts efforts.

[HockeyDad41]

Nice try! Not going to take the bait. I'm not going to turn this thread into my personal attack on Bernie, because I don't have a personal vendetta with the guy. Could I list examples...Yes. Is this the place for that...NO

In other words you don't have an example. You've already attacked MM and Bernie with your previous comments. If I have to spell it our for you, you called him a liar.

Yes, many examples. I didn't call him a liar, you just did. No matter how many examples I show you, you still would defend him. Keep drinking the orange Kool-aid and writing the checks to help Bernie pay for his next Corvette!

Bernie has a Corvette? The greatest American muscle car ever built and you mock him? What are you some kind of commie? FYI - When you say:

Bernie will say one thing to your face and later down the line will contradict himself.

you might want to be careful, that person may think you are calling them a liar. Since you can't seem to conjure up any examples of these contradictions and have gone to the "Drink the Orange Kool Aid" defense, I'm going to assume that you really don't have any. That's fine, it doesn't matter anyway.

[EnjoyTheShow]

That's fine, it doesn't matter anyway.(Quote)
Hockeydad,
Its seems that it does matter to you, quite a bit really. As you seem to be familiar with the program down there, can you speak to whether or not the commitment level has changed?

[HockeyDad41]

That's fine, it doesn't matter anyway.(Quote)
Hockeydad,
Its seems that it does matter to you, quite a bit really. As you seem to be familiar with the program down there, can you speak to whether or not the commitment level has changed?

If you think it means a lot to me and think I seem to know about the commitment level, you should probably re-read the thread. I know nothing about the commitment level. That's why I was asking. HOTG took a shot at a guy who to those of us not in the know seems to be running a decent program that provides for a good opportunity to skate in the summer.

[High Off The Glass]

That's fine, it doesn't matter anyway.(Quote)
Hockeydad,
Its seems that it does matter to you, quite a bit really. As you seem to be familiar with the program down there, can you speak to whether or not the commitment level has changed?

If you think it means a lot to me and think I seem to know about the commitment level, you should probably re-read the thread. I know nothing about the commitment level. That's why I was asking.

HOTG took a shot at a guy who to those of us not in the know seems to be running a decent program that provides for a good opportunity to skate in the summer.

I know about the commitment level and I know the guy in question very well, from what you been writing, I know him a lot better than you. You stated you don't have a kid skating at the Machine level, if that's true, hat's off to you, because you're better off. Believe me, speaking from experience, you're better off. Give it awhile, stay with MM, you to will be writing about your experiences with Bernie. Why is there so many people on this blog that has a negative attitude towards this guy?

[HockeyDad41]

That's fine, it doesn't matter anyway.(Quote)
Hockeydad,
Its seems that it does matter to you, quite a bit really. As you seem to be familiar with the program down there, can you speak to whether or not the commitment level has changed?

If you think it means a lot to me and think I seem to know about the commitment level, you should probably re-read the thread. I know nothing about the commitment level. That's why I was asking.

HOTG took a shot at a guy who to those of us not in the know seems to be running a decent program that provides for a good opportunity to skate in the summer.

I know about the commitment level and I know the guy in question very well, from what you been writing, I know him a lot better than you. You stated you don't have a kid skating at the Machine level, if that's true, hat's off to you, because you're better off. Believe me, speaking from experience, you're better off. Give it awhile, stay with MM, you to will be writing about your experiences with Bernie. Why is there so many people on this blog that has a negative attitude towards this guy?

I'm sure you do know him better than I do. I have never even talked to the guy. I know about their Choice League and it seems to be nothing like what you are describing what the summer teams are like. I know that some of the Choice League coaches coach MM summer teams and all of them seem like great guys who really like the kids. I just find it hard to believe that this whole program is bad. I did hear that they started a new team that is less of a time commitment and allows the kids to play other sports. It's called the Minnesota Force or something like that.